Uprightness helps us manifest our divine qualities. The Bhagavad
Gita describes arjava, or uprightness, as a sign of Knowledge (13.7) and as a
divine quality (16.1). Sri Shankara explains arjava as simplicity or the
absence of crookedness. True simplicity means ensuring that our words tally
with our thought.
And Sri Ramakrishna considered this quality essential for
success in spiritual life: "There is a sect of Vaishnavas known as the
Ghoshpara who describe God as the 'Sahaja', the 'Simple One'. They say further
that a man cannot recognize this 'Simple One' unless he too is simple."
Sri Ramanuja explains arjava as a uniform disposition towards others in mind,
speech and body. Perfect alignment in thought, word and deed constitutes true
simplicity.
Sant Dnyaneshwar gives the following meanings for arjava: Favoring
all equally without likes or dislikes: This amounts to loving all equally.
Holy Mother Sri Sarada Devi taught a little girl how to do
that: "Do not demand anything of those you love. If you make demands, some
will give you more and some less. In that case you will love more those who
give you more and less those who give you less. Thus your love will not be the
same for all. You will not be able to love all impartially."
Source – notes taken from divine qualities - teachings by
Swami Yuktatmananda